Robert J. Behnke facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert J. Behnke
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| Born | December 30, 1929 |
| Died | September 13, 2013 (aged 83) |
| Other names | Dr. Trout, The Trout Doctor |
| Alma mater | University of Connecticut, University of California, Berkeley |
| Spouse(s) | Sally Martin |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Fisheries Biologist, Conservationist |
| Institutions | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Colorado State University |
| Doctoral advisor | A. Starker Leopold |
| Other academic advisors | Paul R. Needham |
Dr. Robert J. Behnke (born December 30, 1929 – died September 13, 2013) was an American scientist. He studied fish, especially salmonids like trout and salmon. People knew him as "Dr. Trout" or "The Trout Doctor" because he was a world expert on these fish.
Dr. Behnke worked to protect fish and their homes. He wrote an important book called Trout and Salmon of North America in 2002. He also wrote articles for Trout Magazine, a publication by Trout Unlimited. He was a professor at Colorado State University and worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Robert J. Behnke was born in Stamford, Connecticut, on December 30, 1929. He lived there until 1952. Then, he joined the U.S. Army and served in the Korean War in both Korea and Japan.
After leaving the military in 1954, Behnke went to the University of Connecticut. He earned a Bachelor's degree in zoology in 1957. He then earned his Master’s and Doctorate degrees from the University of California Berkeley. He studied ichthyology, which is the study of fish. His teacher there was a famous conservationist named Starker Leopold.
In 1963, he married Sally Martin. In 1966, they moved to Fort Collins, Colorado. There, he started working for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Discoveries and Conservation Work
Dr. Behnke was known for studying how fish are classified. He was also a keen angler (someone who fishes) and a historian of fisheries. He cared deeply about protecting fish and their natural environments.
During his career, he wrote over 100 articles and papers about fish. He helped find two types of native trout that people thought were gone forever. These were the Pyramid Lake type of Lahontan cutthroat trout and the Greenback cutthroat trout. The Greenback cutthroat trout is even the state fish of Colorado.
Dr. Behnke strongly supported bringing native trout back to their homes in western North America. He taught many people, including anglers and conservationists, to appreciate the special beauty of native trout. He did this through his articles for Trout Unlimited. In 2002, Colorado Trout Unlimited gave him an award. They recognized him for explaining complex fish science in a way that many people could understand.
He also taught many future fish biologists and conservationists at Colorado State University.
Dr. Behnke's Legacy
Dr. Behnke left a lasting impact on the world of fish conservation.
- In 2006, he gave over 60 boxes of his personal papers and research to the Bud Lilly Trout and Salmonid Collection. This collection is at the Montana State University Library in Bozeman, Montana.
- His personal collection of preserved fish specimens was given to Brigham Young University.
- In 2011, Colorado State University created a special fund in his honor. It is called the Robert J. Behnke Endowed Chair In Coldwater Conservation. This honored his 30 years of service to the university.
- In January 2003, Fly, Rod and Reel magazine named him "Angler of the Year".
- In 2007, Dr. Behnke and others started a fellowship. It helps graduate students at Colorado State University study how to restore native greenback cutthroat trout in Colorado.
- In 1995, a new type of cutthroat trout was named after him. It is called the Snake River fine-spotted cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii behnkei). This honored his important work with fish.
Key Publications
Dr. Behnke's most famous book is Trout and Salmon of North America, published in 2002. He wrote a regular column for Trout Magazine for over 25 years. Many of these columns are collected in a book called The Best of Robert J. Behnke from Trout Magazine. He also published many scientific articles in journals about fish biology and conservation.
